Integrated device for dispensing washing agents for a washing machine, particularly a dishwasher

ABSTRACT

The dispensing device ( 1 ) comprises a first releasing device ( 2 ) for a detergent, including a receptacle ( 4 ) and an associated openable cover ( 5 ), and a second releasing device ( 3 ) for a rinsing agent. These releasing devices ( 2, 3 ) are intended to be activated at successive times in a washing cycle by successive energizations of a single electrically operable actuator ( 11 ) which is mechanically coupled thereto in such a way that a first energization of the actuator ( 11 ) is able to modify the state of the first releasing device ( 2 ) without changing the state of the second releasing device ( 3 ), and a successive energization of the actuator ( 11 ) is such as to cause the activation of the second releasing device ( 3 ). The actuator ( 11 ) is coupled to the cover ( 5 ) of the first releasing device ( 3 ) through a disengageable and re-engageable retaining mechanism ( 17 - 20 ), configured in such a way that a first energization and the successive de-energization of the actuator ( 11 ) cause the passage of the cover ( 5 ) to a pre-opening condition and an increased opening condition, respectively.

The present invention relates to a device for dispensing washing agents for a washing machine, particularly for a dishwasher.

More specifically, the invention relates to a dispensing device comprising a first releasing device for a detergent, including a receptacle for the detergent and an associated openable cover, and a second releasing device for a rinsing agent, the releasing devices being intended to be activated at successive times in a washing cycle by successive energizations of a single electrically operable actuator which is mechanically coupled thereto in such a way that a first energization of the actuator is able to modify the state of the first releasing device without changing the state of the second releasing device, and a successive energization of the actuator is such as to cause the activation of the second releasing device.

There is a wide range of known integrated dispensing devices of the type defined above, for dispensing, typically, a powder detergent and subsequently a liquid rinsing agent, also known as “rinse aid”. An example of a dispensing device of the type defined above is described in patent application EP 0 602 572 A1. This prior art device comprises a single electrically operable actuator coupled to the closing cover of the detergent releasing device and to the rinsing agent releasing device by means of a rather complicated mechanism, including a plurality of levers, two of which are coupled together by means of a heart-shaped cam device.

One object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device of the type defined above which has a highly simplified structure and can be produced in a reasonably economical way.

A further object of the invention is to provide a dispensing device of this type which can enable the dispensing of the detergent to be divided into stages, for example for a pre-wash stage and subsequently for the actual washing stage.

These and other objects are achieved according to the invention by means of an integrated dispensing device for washing agents of the type defined initially, characterized in that the aforesaid actuator is coupled to the cover of the first releasing device by means of a releasable retaining mechanism configured in such a way that a first energization and the successive de-energization of the actuator can cause the passage of the cover to a pre-opening condition and an opening condition, respectively.

In one embodiment, when the cover of the first releasing device is in the aforesaid pre-opening condition, the associated detergent receptacle remains substantially closed, and therefore the detergent is not released into the wash chamber of the machine. In this case, the complete dispensing of the detergent takes place as a result of the de-energization of the actuator immediately after the aforesaid first energization.

In another embodiment, when the cover of the first releasing device is in the aforesaid pre-opening condition, the associated detergent receptacle is open, but to a lesser degree, such that only a limited quantity of the detergent contained therein can be dispensed into the wash chamber of the machine. In this case, the dispensing of the detergent by the first releasing device is completed on the de-energization of the actuator immediately after the first energization.

In this second embodiment, it is therefore possible to supply detergent in a limited quantity in a pre-wash stage, with subsequent dispensing for the actual washing stage.

In the second embodiment described above, the actuator remains energized between the first energization of the actuator and the immediately successive de-energization. It is also possible for the actuator to be made in such a way that a reduced amount of electrical energy is required to maintain its state of energization.

Further characteristics and advantages of the device according to the invention will be made clear by the following detailed description, which is provided purely by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view from the front of an integrated dispensing device according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view showing in a schematic way an embodiment of a retaining mechanism which, in an integrated dispensing device according to the invention, couples the actuator to the cover of the first releasing device;

FIG. 4 is a partial view, in cross section taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3, showing the aforesaid retaining device in a first operating condition;

FIG. 5 is a schematic and partly sectional view showing the procedures for coupling the actuator device of an integrated dispenser according to the invention to the detergent releasing device and to the rinsing agent releasing device, in a first operating condition;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 5, and shows a second operating condition;

FIG. 7 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, and shows the condition of the aforesaid retaining mechanism resulting from a first energization of the actuator device;

FIG. 8 is a view similar to that of FIG. 7, and shows the condition of the aforesaid retaining mechanism following the first energization of the actuator device;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to that shown in FIG. 6, and shows a further operating condition of the actuator; and

FIG. 10 is a time diagram illustrating the procedures for energizing the actuator device and the integrated dispensing device according to the invention.

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the number 1 indicates the whole of an integrated dispensing device for washing agents for a dishwasher, made according to the present invention.

The integrated dispensing device 1 comprises a housing 1 a of moulded plastic material, in which a releasing device 2 for dispensing a detergent, particularly a powder detergent, and an adjacent second releasing device 3 for dispensing a rinsing agent are formed in a known way.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the releasing device 2 for the detergent comprises an essentially bowl-shaped receptacle 4 (FIG. 2) associated with a cover 5 (FIG. 1). This cover is, for example, mounted rotatably about an axis indicated by A-A in FIG. 1. The cover 5 could also be coupled to the body 1 a in a translatable or rotatable-translatable way.

In a known way, the cover 5 is associated with a resilient member such as a torsion spring which tends to cause the cover to move from the closed position shown in FIG. 1 to an open position by oscillation about the axis A-A in the direction of the arrow B of FIGS. 1 and 3.

The releasing device 2 for the rinsing agent is also of a known type. It comprises a receptacle 6 (FIG. 2) for containing a quantity of rinsing agent corresponding to a plurality of doses.

The dispensing of the rinsing agent into the wash chamber of the dishwasher is controlled by means of a shut-off valve indicated as a whole by 7 in FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 9. In a known way, this valve, which is normally closed, is interposed on a conduit adapted to enable the receptacle 6 to communicate with the wash chamber of the machine.

Conveniently, the valve 7 is positioned near the lower part of the receptacle 6 for the rinsing agent.

With reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 9, the valve 7 comprises a valve seat 8, and a plug 9 carried by an operating rod 10, whose axial position is controllable by means of an actuator device indicated as a whole by 11 (FIGS. 2, 5, 6 and 9).

The actuator 11 is of the electrically operable type and, as described more fully below, also controls the activation of the release device 2 for the detergent.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the actuator device 11 is of the solenoid type, and comprises a winding or solenoid 12, an associated frame 13 of material capable of conducting a magnetic flux, and a core 14 which is movable within the solenoid.

The frame 13 and the winding 12 are mounted in a fixed position in the housing 1 a of the integrated dispensing device 1, these elements being conveniently inclined, in a substantially vertical plane, with respect to the horizontal direction, at an angle which is advantageously in the range from 30° to 60°, and preferably approximately 45°. The core 14 is axially movable with respect to the above elements within the solenoid 12, in a corresponding inclined direction.

In the illustrated embodiment, the frame 13 has an upper branch 13 a in which an aperture 13 b is formed. A portion 13 c of the frame 13, surrounding the aperture 13 b, has an essentially trunco-conical outwardly projecting shape (FIGS. 5, 6 and 9). In a corresponding way, the end portion 14 a of the core 14 facing the formation 13 c of the frame 13 is also of essentially trunco-conical shape.

A point 15 a of a lever 15 extends through the aperture 13 b of the magnetic frame 13, the lever extending radially from the periphery of a shaft 16 mounted rotatably in the housing 1 a of the integrated dispensing device 1 about a fixed axis indicated by C-C (see also FIG. 3), in a position conveniently close to the axis A-A of oscillation of the cover 5.

In FIG. 2, the assembly comprising the shaft 16, the lever 15, the actuator 11 and the valve device 7 is shown in an inclined position. In FIGS. 5, 6 and 9, the same assembly is shown in a rotated position, wherein the axis of the movable core 14 is vertical, in order to facilitate the illustration of the relative movements included in its operation.

With reference to FIG. 3, in the illustrated exemplary embodiment a radial arm 17, terminating in a hammer head formation 18, extends from the shaft 16.

In the proximity of the arm 17, two retaining members 19 and 20, substantially parallel to and facing each other, of which the first is shorter than the second, extend from the cover 5 of the releasing device of the detergent 3. These retaining elements 19 and 20 have respective bevelled retaining catches 19 a, 20 a at their distal ends, these catches essentially facing each other.

As shown, for example, in FIGS. 3 and 4, the hammer head formation 18 has two opposite bevelled ends 18 a and 18 b, facing the retaining element 19 and the retaining element 20 respectively. When the cover 5 of the releasing device 2 for the detergent is closed (FIGS. 1 and 3) and the actuator 11 is de-energized (FIG. 5), the end 18 a of the hammer head formation 18 is engaged with the catch 19 a of the retaining element 19 of the cover 5, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The hammer head formation 18 therefore retains the cover 5 in the closed condition. In this condition, as shown in FIG. 5, the point 15 a of the lever 15 bears on the end 14 a of the movable core 14 until the actuator 11 is de-energized.

This core 14 is also coupled to the shut-off valve 7, in the way which will now be described with reference to FIGS. 5, 6 and 9.

In the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the lower end of the core 14 has a radially projecting disc-shaped formation 14 b, which extends between two opposing retaining arms 21 a extending from a plate-like element 21 which is integral with the operating rod 10. The retaining arms 21 a are essentially parallel to each other and to the axis of the core 14, and their distal ends are provided with respective retaining catches 21 b which face each other. A helical spring 22 tends to move the plate-like element 21 away from the actuator 11 by pushing it towards bearing surfaces formed by a casing 23 (FIG. 2) which encloses the whole device 11. The terminal disc-shaped formation 14 b of the core 14 extends between the plate-like element 21 and the retaining catches 21 b, with an ample clearance in the direction of the axis of the core 14. Additionally, when the actuator 11 is de-energized (FIGS. 2 and 5) the disc-shaped formation 14 b bears against the plate-like element 21, in a position spaced apart from the retaining catches 21 b. The integrated dispensing device according to the invention as described above operates, essentially, in the following manner.

At the start of a washing cycle of a dishwasher, the integrated dispensing device is in the conditions shown in FIGS. 1 to 5. The cover 5 of the detergent releasing device is retained in the closed position by the engagement of the end 18 a of the hammer head element 18 with the retaining catch 19 a (FIGS. 3 and 4), and the core 14 bears on the plate-like element 21 (FIGS. 2 and 5), which is held against the stop surfaces of the casing 23 by the spring 22. The valve 7 which controls the supply of the rinsing agent is closed.

During the washing cycle, at a time indicated by t₁ in FIG. 10, a control unit for the operation of the dishwasher causes a first energization of the actuator 11 by sending a current to the solenoid 12. The core 14 is then “pulled” upwards against the action of gravity. The movement of the core 14 causes a rotation of the lever 15 (in the anticlockwise direction as seen by an observer of FIGS. 5 and 6) and a corresponding rotation of the shaft 16, together with the arm 17 and the associated hammer head formation 18. The end 18 a of the hammer head formation 18 is then disengaged from the retaining catch 19 a, and the cover 5, being pushed by the spring which tends to move it away from the closed position, undergoes a small degree of rotation, in the direction indicated by the arrow B in FIG. 3, about the axis A-A, until the end 18 b of the hammer head formation 18 engages with the retaining catch 20 a (FIG. 7). The cover 5 is then retained again, in a new position defined above as the “pre-opening” position.

The extent of the movement of the cover 5 depends on the length of the retaining element 20 relative to that of the retaining element 19.

The condition of retention of the cover 5 shown in FIG. 7 corresponds to the condition of the actuator 11 shown in FIG. 6, in which the movable core 14 has been moved upwards by the energization of the solenoid 12, but its disc-shaped formation 14 b, which has approached the retaining catches 21 b, is still at a certain distance from these catches. In this condition, therefore, the valve 7 controlling the supply of the rinsing agent remains in the initial closed condition.

At a successive time, indicated by t₂ in FIG. 10, the control unit of the machine causes the first de-energization of the solenoid 12. The core 14 returns to the condition of FIGS. 2 and 5, by gravity and/or by the action of resilient means associated with the lever 15, while the shaft 16 and the associated arms 15 and 17 rotate (in a clockwise direction as seen by an observer of FIGS. 5 and 6) under the action of an associated return spring (not shown).

This rotation of the shaft 17 causes the end 18 b of the hammer head formation 18 to be disengaged from the retaining catch 20 and causes the final release of the cover 5 which is free to reach its fully open position, under the action of the resilient means associated with it.

The de-energization of the solenoid 12 of the actuator 11 does not change the condition of the control valve 7 for the dispensing of the rinsing agent, which remains closed.

At a successive time, indicated by t₃ in FIG. 10, the control unit of the dishwasher causes a second de-energization of the solenoid 12: the core 14 is again “pulled” upwards and causes a rotation of the lever 15, the shaft 16 and the arm 17 with the hammer formation 18. This rotation of the arm 17 and of the hammer head formation 18 can now move through a greater angle than in the rotation resulting from the first energization of the solenoid 12, since the rotation of the hammer head formation 18 is no longer limited by the presence of the retaining element 20, 20 a. The second energization of the solenoid 12 therefore causes a greater upward travel of the core 14, such that its terminal disc-shaped formation 14 b engages the catches 21 b of the plate-like element 21 and pulls the latter, together with the shaft 10 and the plug 9, away from the valve seat 8. The valve 7 is thus opened in order to dispense a dose of rinsing agent.

The dispensing of the rinsing agent continues until a successive time, indicated by t₄ in FIG. 10, in which the control unit of the machine causes a second de-energization of the solenoid 12 of the actuator 11 and the return of the core 14, the plate-like element 21, the shaft 10 and the plug 9 to their respective initial positions, thus closing the rinsing agent dispensing valve 7.

As shown in FIG. 10, it is possible to send additional pulses (for energization and de-energization) to the solenoid 12 in order to cause additional dispensing of rinsing agents if required.

At the end of the washing cycle, the cover 5 of the detergent releasing device can be returned manually to the closed position, after a new quantity of detergent has been placed in the associated receptacle 4 (FIG. 2). When the cover 5 is closed, the chamfers or bevels of the retaining catches 20 a, 19 a and the corresponding chamfers or bevels of the ends 18 a, 18 b of the hammer head formation 18 make it possible to restore the initial situation shown in FIGS. 3 and 4.

Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same, the forms of embodiment and the details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, which have been given purely by way of non-limiting example, without thereby departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the attached claims. 

1. Integrated dispensing device (1) for dispensing washing agents in a washing machine, in particular a dishwashing machine, comprising a first releasing device (2) for a detergent, including a receptacle (4) for the detergent and an associated openable cover (5), and a second releasing device (3) for a rinsing agent; the releasing devices (2, 3) being intended to be activated at successive times in a washing cycle by successive energizations of a single electrically operable actuator (11) which is mechanically coupled thereto in such a way that a first energization of the actuator (11) is able to modify the state of the first releasing device (2) without changing the state of the second releasing device (3), and a successive energization of the actuator (11) is such as to cause the activation of the second releasing device (3), the integrated dispensing device (1) being characterized in that the actuator (11) is coupled to the cover (5) of the first releasing device (3) through a disengageable and re-engageable retaining mechanism (17-20), configured in such a way that a first energization and the successive de-energization of the actuator (11) cause the passage of said cover (5) to a pre-opening condition and an increased opening condition, respectively.
 2. Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (11) is coupled to the cover (5) of the first releasing device (2) through a rocker lever (15-17), one arm (17) of which has an engaging formation (18) adapted to successively engage with first and second retaining members (19, 20), respectively, of the cover (5), when the cover (5) is in the closed condition and, respectively, in the pre-opening condition.
 3. Dispensing device according to claim 2, wherein the engaging formation (18) is essentially shaped like a hammer head, and has two ends (18 a, 18 b) protruding transversely with respect to the arm (17).
 4. Dispensing device according to claim 1, wherein the actuator (11) comprises an electrically operable movable member (14), the movable member (14) being coupled to a valve device (7) of the second releasing device (3) through a drive device (21, 10) adapted to allow the opening of said valve device (7) only when the movable member (14) travels through a distance exceeding a predetermined value.
 5. Dispensing device according to claim 4, wherein the actuator (11) and its movable member (14) are positioned to be inclined at a predetermined angle to the horizontal direction, the upper part of the actuator (11) being coupled to the cover (5), the lower part of the actuator (11) being coupled to the releasing device (3). 